prominent, lost place 7th, blundered 8th, behind after, tailed off
chased leader to 5th, remained prominent, led approaching 3 out, ridden clear approaching 2 out, mistake last, headed and no extra flat
prominent, went 2nd 5th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
led, driven along from 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, rallied from 2 out, led flat, ran on
held up in touch, headway 9th, ridden after 11th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, mistake 3rd and 7th, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 9th, hit 11th, ridden 3 out, one pace from 2 out
behind, not fluent 2nd, disputing 5th when fell 4 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
A very competitive handicap chase and Xellance is given a narrow vote ahead of Kety Star and Flahive's First. The Phillip Hobbs trained nine-year-old has put in two promising efforts so far this season, the most recent over a longer trip here behind On The Outside. He began to feel the heat after the third-last over that two mile seven trip and the drop back to this distance should be ideal. He was a solid performer last time and is capable of winning off his current mark. Kety Star got the better of today's rival Flahive's First when they met at Uttoxeter recently, the former on top by just half a length at the line. There should be very little between them again at today's weights but Kety Star does appear to have more scope for improvement. The pick of the remainder could be the novice Slalom, but Xellance is the pick of the weights this afternoon and gets the verdict.
Kety Star (FR) 9-2 (11-3) Prominent, left in lead after 8th, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf beating Flahive's First (9-9) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Cobbet (CHR) 11-2 (11-7) In touch, hit and lost place 8th, rallied 10th, ridden after 4 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Tevere (11-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Jun.
Xellance (IRE) 13-2 (10-6) Held up, headway to chase leaders from 13th, driven to challenge for 2nd when pecked 2 out, weakened run-in, 4th of 11, 7l behind On The Outside (10-8) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Maidstone Monument (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, hit last, kept on, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Barren Lands (9-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
Half An Hour 12-1 (11-6) In touch, weakened approaching 6th and pulled up at the 9th in race won by Runner Bean (11-2) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Nov, 12 ran.
Slalom (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up, hit 5th, headway approaching 8th, chased winner 3 out, lost 2nd and blundered last, no impression, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Briscoe Place (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in Jun.
Flahive's First 20-1 (9-9) Held up, headway after 7th, slightly hampered after next, ridden 3 out, went 2nd last, ran on towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Kety Star (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf.
Golden Crusader 7-1 (11-5) Made all, shaken up after 2 out, ran on well, comfortably, won at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jun beating Longstone Boy (10-5) by 11l, 6 ran.
